Transparent middlebox with graceful connection entry and exit

Abstract

Middlebox systems that can enter a connection include a monitoring module to monitor information in a connection between a client and a server, a processor to determine that the connection is idle, a table configured to create a first entry for the client and a second entry for the server, where the entries are initialized using information gathered by the monitoring module, and a control module to redirect the connection between the client and server to the middlebox. Middlebox systems that can exit a connection include a processor to determine a mismatch between sequence numbers in a first connection to a client device and in a second connection to a server device. A network control module delays acknowledgment signals from the middlebox on a connection to decrease the degree of mismatch and establishes a direct connection between the client device and the server device when mismatch is zero.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION[0001]This application is a Continuation application of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 562,603 filed on Jul. 31, 2012, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]The present invention relates to network optimization and, more particularly, to the addition and removal of middleboxes from existing network connections.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]With the growth in mobile data traffic, network congestion has become a major issue for mobile network operators. In response, vendors have been offering a large number of network appliances, commonly called middleboxes, to alleviate network congestion. Those middleboxes are designed to reduce transmission delays and improve the throughput of wireless users. A middlebox may be, e.g., a proxy or network optimizer. Proxies such as split-TCP split a network connection between a client and server into two transmission control protocol (TCP) ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a way to remove a middlebox from a network connection by determining the difference in sequence numbers between two connections. The middlebox is delayed in acknowledging signals to reduce the difference in sequence numbers, and once the difference is determined to be minimal, a direct connection is established between the client device and the server device without the use of the middlebox. The technical effect is an improved method of optimizing network data transfer without the need for a middlebox.

Problems solved by technology

With the growth in mobile data traffic, network congestion has become a major issue for mobile network operators.

However, existing middlebox solutions must be engaged at the beginning of a network connection and, once engaged, cannot be disengaged.

As network conditions change, the use of a middlebox may become superfluous or even degrade connection quality.

Similarly, if conditions change such that a connection could benefit from a middlebox, existing middlebox solutions cannot insert a middlebox in a pre-existing connection.

Because the two connections are independent and have their own sequence numbers, it is not feasible using existing middlebox solutions to add or remove a middlebox.

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